The Australia Healthcare System and Biomedical Model
The term sociology means a systematic study of people aspects of life such as cultures, mode of dressing, beliefs, type of food they use as well as taboos that exist in their community. Sociology is very broad, and it gives us ideas on all most everything we do in how life (Mbuthia, 2018). Hierarchy and power are one of the areas that several sociologists have given different ideas according to their perspectives. Sociologist develops theories that help them express their ideas to very people concerned. In this essay, we shall discuss the Australia healthcare system and biomedical model as well as various of sociological theories such functionalism, social constructivism, conflict, feminism, Marxism, and weberianism, expressing their perspectives and assumptions made depending on particular theory (Galantino, 2018). Furthermore, it will highlight the implications of the theories to the Australia Healthcare System and how it explains about hierarchy and power, the importance of the theories according to it ideas concerning regime and power in Australia and the implication that can be learned. The main aim is to evaluate the merits and demerit of hierarchy and power which is an intrinsic factor in Australian health system and know whether there is any change that needs to be addressed as far as health matters are concerned.
Health is the most important are that every country should ensure that it is running in the best way possible. Australia is known to have the best and quality health care services in the world, having different categories of ranks based on the skills in the health profession and area of specialization. Similarly, the health centers are of different types offering various health services depending on the condition of the patient and kind of attention required. For instance, primary health care centers deal with minor cases disease or early stage of infections while secondary deals with advanced cases (Bastos, Harnois, & Paradies, 2018). Biomedical model is a predominant model that was established at around mid-19th century, and it is exercised by all experts in the health profession, its emphases only on the biological parts of diseases as well as physical aspects and how illness comes about. Mainly it works on the bases of diagnosing, therapeutic, and treating the diseases (Leach, Wiese, Thakkar, & Agnew, 2018). By this medical model, the perspective about health is that it should comprise of liberty from infection, agony or injury and aching making the actual human state to be healthy.
Functionalism Theory and Hierarchy
The physical aspect of this model is based on areas like the pathology of the diseases causing infections, the biochemical side of it as well as the disease physiology. However, it neglects social elements or individual partiality in the way that diagnosis is not put into consideration when dealing with patients which ends up affecting patients’ medication to be one of the results of the interaction between health care provider and patient (Buse, Martin & Nettleton, 2018). Biomedical model hence emphasizes purely on biological elements and does not consider psychological, ecological and social factors.
Sociological perception emphasizes the effects of individuals’ backgrounds concerning the value of health and quality of healthcare that community beliefs, cultures and its structural organization influences health care as well. Sociology understands that health is a condition of total wellness of human being on the bases of mind, body, and feelings. This sociology perspective explains out clearly that society is the primary determinant of the kind of illness and assumes that a productive society is the one with individuals who are healthy and preventing any form of infections.
Functionalism theory is a sociological theory which was developed by Emile Durkheim who was majorly concerned with how social ranks is applicable or in which way the society can remain outstanding when social order is maintained. Functionalist is more interest in the hierarchy made in the community and how they help in achieving a functional society and a very stable one (Hoffrage, 2018). Functionalist points out clearly that if every level of society ensure that they abide by their assigned duties and work excellently in their respective ranks or hierarchy, will result to productive and stable society (Scholz, 2018). It, therefore, insist that society is supposed to acclimate to the proper organization and order to yield the best result. On the side of health, functionalist assumes that good health and extended health care are vital for the outstanding functioning of the community. It views the association between the health care provider and patient as hierarchical in that the patient has to follow orders given by the doctors. This implies that health professionals are supposed to be aware of how society values them as the backbone or mentor when it comes to matters concerning health. Therefore, they should be competent enough. Hierarchy is seen as the essential aspect of health to aid in maintaining a functional society.
Social Constructivism Theory and Society
Social constructivism theory, according to the constructivist approach is that individuals’ development is determined socially and that society labors in unity to and togetherness to come up with something. It assumes that health and sickness are dictated by social constructions, in that the mental and physical part is excluded when it comes to determining the wellness or sickness since they can only be viewed to be unwell or well in reference to what the society regards or perceives as ill or health (Kauppi, 2018). Health professional in Australia should hence understand the beliefs in different societies they are working in. The ministry of health should be more concerned about the society’s views and needs. Social classes or hierarchy according to this theory is viewed as the vital role whereby the decisions of the society ends up determining what to be done or not in general (Vanderstraeten, 2018). The same way the health professional is supposed to have rules and regulations that defines what they do in the field of health.
Conflict theory, it is based on the ideas of Karl Marx which concentrates on the inequalities of various groups in the society and that there are multiple levels or phases that society evolves from which includes capitalism, feudalism, and socialism (Druck, 2018). Conflicts theory explains that both the senior in the hierarchy and the juniors are dependent on each other, and that power cannot be there if this two were to be independent (Green, 2018). On the health side, it assumes that differences in social classes determine the quality of health as well as eminence of health care services availed. Individuals from backgrounds that are not well to do are most possibly to fall sick and gets inadequate treatment. On the same note, health professionals have come up with strategies to inflate their earnings by managing the practice of medicine as well as considering the community difficulties as if they are health problems. The health system of Australia should ensure that despite the position one is in this field, all individuals must be handled well and given quality health services despite the social class. This theory shows that often there are tendencies in the societies to provide best services to the well to do people and neglect the disadvantaged ones (Sambanis, Germann & Schädel, 2018). It is essential that health practitioners to practices equality in everything they do.
Feminism theory, the feminist was much interested in addressing in the issues of gender, social partitioning of responsibilities depending on sexes as well as inequalities that exist among sexes in our communities (Parry, & COREY, 2018). Gender inequalities lead to lower production in the community. In the medical care part, feminist trust that their healthcare administrations are hierarchical schemes, in which the doctors who are in most cases men are placed at the highest position while the nurses commonly the women are given the bottommost level of significance despite their level of education in most instances which is very unfair (Byerly, 2018). Therefore, healthcare organizations divide workforce depending on sexes with men being at highest ranks and women at the lowest level. Research shows that more than fifty percent of women serve in broad areas in the economy and specifically in health itself it is above seventy-five percent. Women are providing many of the healthcare workforces in all continent.
Conflict Theory and Social Classes
Nevertheless, there is a deprived depiction of females in management and resolution making positions in medical institutions that can result in poor health services, which can incorporate worries to people with good needs. This implies that health professional is not practicing fairness in labor division which can result in overall negative attitudes in the health work making the quality of services rendered to be very poor. It’s of important that hierarchy in positioning health professionals to be made with fairness and no gender issues should determine the positioning, but they should follow skills and experience that one has. Similarly, consider the factor of specialization.
Marxism theory, Marxism has got the most significant contribution in the healthcare sector and its operation. Marxist argues that the issue of capitalism has made the health practitioners offer their services more in the private sector than in the public sector since in private part they can raise more money (Thompson, 2018). Competition of becoming wealthier has contributed to the increase of private hospitals which are mostly very expensive to get treated there. Health experts who are mainly in high ranks or level are neglected their duty in government and open their health centers where they offer medical services at the high cost as well as getting payment from the government. This greed to earn a lot makes the health system a business focused and money making on the institute.
Consequently, is much more interested in the field of the economy as well as the political part in resolving health care in capitalist communities. Marxist perceives that wellness and sickness is a social marvel but not particularly a biology-based factor (Angermuller, 2018). Marxist says that the health field is like an institute organized to cater only for the individuals who are rich but not to benefit or improve the health condition of everybody in the community. By Marxist views, this unfairness in health provision is a capitalist community comes from the presence of groups of people who lacks any production in the nation (Mills, 2018). This implies that the health sector needs more investigations and proper inspection by the ministry concerned to ensure that in Australia, this attitude is not going to continue anymore. It is essential to set the even new rule that will control all the operation of the health system in general.
Weberianism theory, Weber discloses that power can be in different ways in that an individual’s power might be observed in social rank via their status, also depending on the political ranks by one’s party (Robertson & Muellerleile, 2018). Also, power can be manifested through the economic level in that particular sector of ordering. Weber argues that in any circumstance if someone is below one another, he or she is capable of exercising power over that individual. Australia healthcare system their different strengths entitled to the health professional depending on their duty, level of study, and area of specialization. As in Weber’s suggestion about power, we see that in the health care system of Australia the senior professionals and have got more power than then ones below called visiting officers. Hence the senior professional is legible to exercise power over them. The visiting officers are followed by the health clerks who are then followed by chief captains, and the chief captains have power over the resident health captains, and the lowest lever is the intern which comprises of the medical professional who is at the first year of master’s studies. This implies that every health practitioner must fulfill and ensure that it well running. It shows that is the organization in this sector and that leadership powers are exercised to achieve the goal of the health department.
Feminism Theory and Gender Inequalities
Marxism theory, the Marxist shows that power is assigned depending on the individual level in the society regarding wealth one has. This theory explains further that more benefits are given to the people who are in power (Hill, 2018). Also, society shows a lot of respect to a person with power and is very ready to adhere to the orders given by those in power. Marxist continues to argue that rule and regulations are mostly made by those in power. For instance, the political leaders in how societies come up with orders that those that they are ruling should cling to accordingly. In the health sector of Australia, the ministry of health is in control of the service provider and regulates even the private schemes.
In collaboration with the regulation of the World Health Organization, the ministry of health can control all activities about health. This Marxism theory helps health practitioners of Australia to realize that power is an essential thing for the smooth running of every organization and therefore learn to follow instructions (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham and Johnson, 2018). They should also realize that the society views them as people in power and that why when patient is given appointments, they respond to them accordingly. All instruction is given or prescribed towards medicine taken with seriousness by the patient. So, health professionals are supposed to be competent and serious in their works.
Government is also backbone stakeholder when it comes to management and control of the health scheme. It gives supports of finance through Medicare also known as medical care. Medicare through the finance provided by government it ensures that individuals get subsidized medication even in some cases in private sectors. The government gets it funds from taxes in different activities of the nation primarily through insurances and in turn render health services to the citizens among other areas. Australia has different divisions of the governments that are responsible and in power of catering for the assigned branches in the health sector.
In agreement with the laws regulating the operation in the health system in Australia, which includes medical students to the most experienced specialist, health practitioners are challenged to be committed to their profession. They should accept that to learn from the skilled personnel; one has to allow power to be exercised over him or her. Should follow the instructions as it is supposed to provide quality healthcare and have the society that functions efficiently.
Marxism Theory and Capitalism
Conclusion
This paper has broadly and exhaustively described the topic on hierarchy and power in Australia health care system based on several sociological theories such as functionalism, Marxism, feminism, social constructivism, Weberianism and conflict theory based on their assumptions and perspectives concerning hierarchy and power as well as the implication to Australia health system. Biomedical model has also been discussed in this essay and all that it pertains. The essay has also briefly discussed the impact or implications of hierarchy and power on health and also brief notes on Australia health schemes. The recommendation is that the ministry of health should find strategies to reduce so much establishment of private health sector by the health practitioners to reduce neglecting public health center by the health professional in higher ranks and have the power to do what they wish.
References
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